More random things running has taught me

Yesterday I did one freaking hard workout.  It was a threshold workout that consisted of three 2-mile repeats at at 8:43 pace, with a roughly 3-mile warm-up and a 1.5 mile cool down--roughly 10.5 total miles. 

While that workout is hard enough in and of itself, I made it harder by doing it outside on all the hilly hills around my house instead of on the treadmill.  This decision was made because temps were again in the mid-60s, and you just can't waste a summer morning like that by staying inside and staring at a blue wall whilst slogging away on the treadmill.

But as I was getting ready to go do the run, I didn't think I could do it.

The distance and the hills (not so much the pace--8:43 I can totally handle) and the amount of 2 mile repeats were all getting in my head and forming a big ball of doubt.  But I forced myself outside and you know what happened?  I totally crushed that workout.

I've been running for a little over 9 years now, and you'd think I wouldn't doubt myself before a run anymore--but nope.  But I also love proving to myself that I can do the things I think I can't do, which is the one thing that motivates me to get out and do a run that I am fearful of doing.  It's one of those things I've learned in my 9-ish years of running--that I can do more than I think I can.  It's also taught me some other things along the way as well, which shall now be enumerated in a bulleted list for your viewing pleasure:

• I'm not invincible.  Sometimes I get injured because I'm playing fast and loose with recovery days or run too many races without enough rest.  When injuries start to crop up, preventative maintenance is needed - such as ice baths accompanied by cats with WHOA faces.

• Getting enough rest is essential.  Sleep is essential for getting the most out of your runs and for recovering/getting stronger.  It is also essential for staying awake at work the entire time and not wanting a nap at 2 PM because you got up at 3 AM to get that run done.  
• You'll always feel better if you just shut-up and get that run done.  At least, that's what the master of naps says in our house.

Hyooman.  Go running so you GO AWAY

• Consistency is key.  I've said this in previous posts, and I'll say it again - if you want to be better at running, you have to run consistently and with the intent to get better.  That's true for running ot anything in life, really.
• It's a hill.  Get over it.  Yesterday's run was full of annoying little rolling hills.  But because I was running for a certain pace, I told myself to power through them (up them, really), get over the hill (literally and mentally) and get to the downhill part as fast as possible.  It wasn't always easy and I wanted to stop and cry several times (especially when I had to run 0.25 uphill *sob*), but I kept going because I knew my post-workout would be beating myself up mentally for stopping.  Plus, I'm training for Twin Cities, which is known for its hill back half--what better training could there be for it but an elevation profile that looks like this?

holy hills

• Running is always better with a buddy.  Even if that buddy is constantly trying to pull you sideways into a ditch while you're trying to run in a forward direction and slobbers on himself during the entire run.

So much slobber.

• Skinnier doesn't mean stronger.  I used to be 20 pounds lighter than I am now, as shown in the pic below after my 4th 5K ever about 9 years ago.  However, that girl couldn't run a marathon, grit her teeth through an ice bath, or even think about running all the crazy hills I do now.

And she definitely wouldn't have thought about running over 10-ish in just a sports bra and shorts before going to work on a Tuesday morning, like the girl below does on the regular.

Tomorrow's workout:  I still have one more thing to learn - how to get tomorrow's 17-mile long run in before the heat gets all crazy while still attending a 5K with my dog at 8 AM at a location 35 minutes away.  So, if anyone has any helpful suggestions about how to solve the word problem I just gave in the previous sentence, I would welcome them (other than "skip the run you psychopath").  Myself, I forsee a 4 AM start time in my future....so if you're in my area Saturday morning and you see a bobbing white light following by a green blinky one on a lone country road, it's just crazy little me running in the dark.  Nothing to see there.

Ramblings about my treadmill run this morning. And many bulleted lists.

It's me again, kids!

As you can tell, my treadmill and I had another hot date in my ugly smelly basement this morning, this time at around 5 AM.  Six easy miles was on the schedule, and I have to admit I was dreading it.  That's because it is a known fact that six easy miles on the treadmill is more accurately measured in eons and epochs rather than minutes and miles, and I suspected I might die of old age while i was trying to get this run done.

So I decided to spice it up with some pick-ups.  Well, actually I first decided to spice it up with some awesome purple shorts.

PURPLE POWER

And THEN I decided that I was going to accentuate my run with some pick-ups. 

I ran the first mile at warm-up pace, ran the second mile at around 10 min pace, and then did the first half of miles 3 through 5 at a 9 minute pace (with the back half of those miles at a 10 minute pace). I am happy to report that a) I made it off the treadmill, b) I am still alive, and c) those pick-ups made the time go by much, much easier.

But during the run I couldn't help but notice my mind wandering off, trying to self-soothe by making up these weird comparative equivalencies to keep myself motivated. It actually wanders off like this a lot, and I thought

• I have half a mile of this last pickup....that's only two short little loops on the display.
• I have one more mile left...that's only about 10 more minutes of running.

Of course, those are the more sane ones my brain comes up with when shut up in a basement with a treadmill.  I thought I would share some of my other little running equivalencies I cook up when I'm in a race or outside taking large dog for a spin:

• I have two more miles left of this hilly run....that's only four more times I have to be dragged downhill by large dog.
• I have 13 more miles left of this marathon...that's only three more gel snack times until I'm done.
• I have 20 more miles to go...that's only a puppy every mile that I don't stop.
• I'm at the start line and I have no motivation to run this race whatsoever...that's only one waste of a race registration and one miserable run ahead of me.

But there's other ways you can spice up a boring treadmill workout other than playing little mental games with yourself.  Here are some other suggestions:

• Do speed intervals for 20 seconds whenever you hear a certain word in the song you're listening to or movie you're watching.  Whatever that word is, just make sure it's in good taste along with whatever it is you're listening to/watching.
• Jump off the treadmill every half mile or mile and do some push-ups without permanently injuring yourself.
• Hum.
• Crossword puzzles are always a good idea while running to exercise your brain along with your body.
• For crying out loud get off the treadmill and go outside where it's not boring.

So boring.  Go outside.

And here are some suggestions for learnings from the ramblings above:

• As usual, I should never write posts when I'm this tired.
• So many bulleted lists in this post.  So. Many.
• But boy did that treadmill run go by in the wink of an eye this morning.
• A really really slow wink of an eye.
• Please dear lord don't jump off a treadmill or do crosswords while running.  You'll hurt yourself.  FYI.

Tomorrow's workout: Got me a little tempo...it may be on the treadmill or I may go outside and do it where it's not boring, for crying out loud.